Rick Ross

Rick Ross

You don't know how big a star really is until you see what gets pulled into its orbit. Simply shining isn't enough. But when you witness entire worlds bend to its will then greatness is recognized. After the runaway success of his hit single "Hustlin" Rick Ross' star was clearly on the rise. His place in the hip-hop universe was solidified when his debut album Port of Miami was certified Gold with over 700,000 copies sold. Now he returns with his sophomore disc, Trilla, (boss speak for "realer than the fake") to separate true stardom from the hot balls of gas trying to compete.

"This album is better, bigger," says Ross. "When 'Hustla' took off I finished Port of Miami in the back of the van on promo tour, this one I really sat down with producers and everybody I really wanted to work with and put together something that's really timeless."

With the street single "Trilla" serving as the warning shot, the official lead-off cut "Speedin'" enlists the rhythm and gangsta swagger of R. Kelly over a rollicking sound bed by the Runners.

"The concept is being young men chasing a dream not ready to stop," Ross explains. "To young niggas like
me in the street stopping is too close to dying, so I'm speeding, speeding to be the best."

After the experience of touring with Jay-Z and rocking 50,000 seat arenas across the globe, Ross has laced his music with a sentimental yet guarded edge that defines hip-hip's classic offerings.

DJ Toomp, Cool N Dre, and The Runners are among the track masters lending their talent to Trilla and the results are nothing short of phenomenal. The monumental "Maybach Music" features Jay-Z and takes the chill factor of the "Hustlin" remix to unfathomable levels. That song will be battling head-to-head with "Luxury Tax" (featuring Lil Wayne and Young Jeezy) for record of the year.

"I'm coming back to my roots giving the streets what they want, giving them what I learned over the last year," Ross says confidently. "I've done shows in Dublin, Ireland. I've repped Miami in Alaska. I'm the same person, I'm just using my resources now."

Focused yet diverse in his talents, Rick Ross will make his acting debut alongside Laurence Fishburn in Days of Wrath and is preparing his documentary on Miami's top hustlers, MI-YAYO. Furthermore, he is executive producing the debut release of his group, Carol City Cartel. To say that Rick Ross's stars are aligning would be a gross understatement.

"I'm A-List top shelf right here," Ross says proudly. "This is strictly that Caterpillar Sushi. Port of Miami let them know that I rep the streets, but this time we reppin the streets and letting them know we commercially successful. So expect some big, big things."